Thousands fill the Capitol rotunda in Madison, Wis.

[NeonLX]

I hope they can get it to stick...but on the other hand, I'm not very optimistic. These Koch-funded politicians wear teflon armor.

[seemslikeadream]

Recall Election Ordered for Wis. Gov. Scott Walker

MADISON, Wis. March 30, 2012 (AP)

A recall election has been officially ordered against embattled first-term Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker after more than 900,000 signatures were collected on petitions to force a vote.

The Government Accountability Board voted 5-0 Friday to order the recall against the Republican, a move that's been expected for weeks given the high number of signatures gathered between November and January. It took 540,208 signatures to trigger a recall.

If a Democratic primary is necessary, it will be May 8. The actual recall vote then will be June 5.

Walker was targeted for recall after he pushed through a law last year that effectively ended collective bargaining rights for most state workers.

There have been only two successful recalls of governors in U.S. history.

Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney embrace Scott Walker

[NeonLX]

Glad the recall election is happening. But I'm not glad that the best the "opposition" party can come up with is Kathleen Falk. I think she will barely be able to carry her home county; never mind everywhere else upstate...

[Allegro]

Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney embrace Scott Walker

Lest we forget that Ricky and Mitty and Scotty are campaigning, spoken or not “in the name of Jesus,” who’s throwing heavenly parties for His friends and other millionaires, sitting and eating and drinking in front of nine or ten plasma widescreens, hoopin and hollerin “in His name!” with a computer nearby formulating revised goals, percentages and quotas of USD that must be met with much hand wringing and praying for each of Jesus’s white male shills and other suffering inepts. Oh, the joys of religious sincerity.

Any wonder I’ve not been invited?
I’d be such a party poop piler, here and there.

[seemslikeadream]

Defendant in John Doe case hospitalized

A defendant in the John Doe investigation that's resulted in charges against a half-dozen former staffers and colleagues of Gov. Scott Walker while he was Milwaukee County executive has been hospitalized.

Kevin Kavanaugh, 61, failed to appear Monday in Circuit Court due to treatment for internal bleeding, a problem that's placed him in intensive care, according to Kavanaugh's lawyer, Christopher Hartley. Kavanaugh faces five felony charges accusing him of embezzling about $42,000 in donations intended to help military veterans and their families.

Kavanaugh's hearing was rescheduled for April 18 before Judge Dennis Cimpl. Kavanaugh is free on a $20,000 signature bond.

Kavanaugh, of Cudahy, was treasurer of a Milwaukee Purple Heart chapter that had been chosen by the county executive to handle money raised for Operation Freedom, which was Walker's annual picnic at the Milwaukee County Zoo honoring veterans. Kavanaugh skimmed money from the Purple Heart bank account, including money intended for children of U.S. veterans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a criminal complaint.

Walker appointed Kavanaugh to the county Veterans Service Commission.

[NeonLX]

..."internal bleeding"...

Well, that's, ummm...odd.

[seemslikeadream]

..."internal bleeding"...

Well, that's, ummm...odd.

I'm not sure what the proper punishment is for stealing from the children of veterans is but.....

[NeonLX]

I'm not sure what the proper punishment is for stealing from the children of veterans is but.....

I might have some suggestions...

[Allegro]

.
Federal Court Rules Scott Walker’s Anti-Union Crusade Unconstitutional
— By Steven Rosenfeld | Sourced from AlterNet
— Posted March 30, 2012, 2:06 pm | Links in the original

Wisconsin’s recall-facing Republican Gov. Scott Walker and his legislative allies received a stunning rebuke from a federal court on Friday that ruled the state’s Act 10 that stripped most state employee unions of the collective bargaining rights and dues-collecting authority was an unconstitutional abuse of power.

The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge William Conley, which struck down those sections of the law, held that the Legislature had the right to deny union bargaining rights, so long as that policy was applied evenly across all state employee unions—not just the ones opposing the Governor’s or his party’s policies. In Act 10, Walker generally exempted state police and public safety unions from the bargaining and dues-collecting restrictions.

“The Act’s treatment of the Capital Police, who endorsed the Governor’s opponent, in comparison to its treatment of state vehicle inspectors, who endorsed the Governor, best illustrates this suspect line-drawing,” Conley wrote, saying that targeting of some unions violated the Constitution’s equal protection clause.

“There is no dispute that a state may bar its public employees from engaging in any form of collective bargaining. The only question is whether a state may restrict the collective bargaining rights to one category of public unions while allowing full rights to another category,” he wrote. “The new, expansive restrictions on collective bargaining bears no rational relationship to a legitimate government interest in avoiding strikes of those employees.”

The Court also said that Walker and his GOP allies also went too far in trying to stop the collection of union dues for some state employee unions but not others, saying that restriction violated both equal protection and freedom of assembly rights.

“Indeed, it is even more irrational to deny a voluntary set off union dues to general union members who affirmatively request it while imposing an involuntary set off of dues by public safety union members who affirmatively oppose it,” Conley held. “Nor have defendants described how this particular provision affords state and municipal governments increased flexibility to manage the economic crisis, except perhaps to suppress disfavored unions from opposing certain governmental cuts—a purpose that cannot justify the government’s selectively subsidizing union speech.”

The judge also said in a footnote that Walker’s vendetta against the unions was not related to Act’s supposed purpose of saving taxpayers money.

“In press releases and public addresses, the Governor claimed that Act 10 was needed to balance the state budget and give state and municipal governments the tools to manage during economic crisis. There is nothing in the record to suggest prohibiting dues withholding for some, but not all, public sector employees provides an administrative savings.”

The decision will have national implications—and not just because it was issued by a federal judge. Different right-wing governors elected in 2010 have taken the lead nationally in advancing different rightwing crusades, with Walker being the point man to undermine public sector unions. The campaign to recall Walker from office has prompted national conservative activists, such as David Koch, to donate huge sums to Walker’s retention campaign as well as to state publicly that Walker’s anti-union drive was one of the most important political fights of 2012.

[Pele'sDaughter]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/145814335.html

Madison -- Two unions that were largely spared from Gov. Scott Walker's curbs on collective bargaining endorsed him Monday.

Walker is facing a recall this summer because of his successful plan to all but eliminate collective bargaining for most public workers. Walker's plan mostly left alone police officers and firefighters, and the unions representing Milwaukee cops and Milwaukee firefighters renewed their support for him Monday. The two were some of the only unions to endorse Walker when he initially ran in November 2010.

“Governor Walker has a strong record of supporting public safety with an unwavering commitment to first responders,” said a statement from Michael Crivello, president of the Milwaukee Police Association. “Today, we are proud to announce our support for Governor Walker’s reelection.”

The Walker campaign released a similar statement from Dave Seager, president of the Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Association.

Most other unions endorsed Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in the 2010 race for governor. Barrett is again running, but before he got in the race many unions endorsed former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.

Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, called Monday's endorsements inappropriate. His group, which represents police officers everywhere in the state but Milwaukee, endorsed Barrett in 2010.

"I think the endorsement by these two unions of Scott Walker is an embarrassment," Palmer said.

He noted police and firefighters were allowed to keep most of their ability to collectively bargain, but they lost their ability to negotiate over some aspects of their health care. Palmer said some police agencies are now threatening to set health-care deductibles of as much as $10,000 if police unions do not agree to concessions.

He said he didn't understand how the Milwaukee unions could endorse Walker given that change in state law.

Palmer said his board is considering whether to endorse in the primary. But an endorsement in the general election is guaranteed, he said.

"It is an absolute that we will endorse in the general -- and it will not be for Scott Walker," he said.

[seemslikeadream]

HUSH MONEY: IS SCOTT WALKER PROVIDING AID TO WISGOP CRONIES CHARGED WITH CRIMES?
Created on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 06:20

MADISON -- New questions were raised after a report Monday in WisPolitics.com about a "third party" payee in the criminal defense of top Wisconsin Republican officer and longtime Scott Walker crony Tim Russell.

Recently unsealed court documents show that a third party is paying bills for Russell, who was hired or promoted eight times by Walker following his firing by another government agency for improper use of taxpayer dollars.

The unprecedented criminal corruption investigation against Walker has already netted two convictions with six aides charged with 15 felonies, making Walker's the most corrupt administration in Wisconsin history.

And, facing recall, Walker's campaign is attacking the judicial independence of the John Doe proceeding as well as stonewalling about several elements of the case, including just what Republican caucus scandal veteran Kelly Rindfleisch was hired to do by Walker. Wisconsin deserves to know the answers to some very basic questions that are well within Scott Walker's power to answer.

Last night's revelations beg an answer to the question -- are Scott Walker or his friends helping to bankroll the defense of his top aides who are charged with stealing from veterans, stealing from taxpayers, trying to entice boys and violating the laws of the state of Wisconsin?,"

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said Tuesday. "And if Scott Walker IS causing money to reach his longtime cronies, why is this not a corrupt attempt to purchase their silence?"

[seemslikeadream]

12th person granted immunity in Wis. John Doe case
9:28 PM, May. 9, 2012
By Dinesh Ramde, Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (WTW) — A secret Milwaukee County investigation that has already led to criminal charges against five people close to Gov. Scott Walker took a step forward Wednesday when a judge granted immunity to a 12th witness.

David Halbrooks, a former Milwaukee municipal judge and private attorney, requested and received immunity in the so-called John Doe investigation, according to online court records.

Halbrooks declined comment when reached by The Associated Press.

A John Doe investigation is one in which witnesses can be compelled to testify under oath about potential criminal matters. The case is conducted in secrecy, and the only part of a John Doe investigation that is public is the granting of immunity. The proceeding allows witnesses to be subpoenaed, while forbidding them to talk publicly about the case.

Eleven other people, including Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie, were granted immunity between July 2010 and April 2011.

The secret investigation centers on people who served during Walker's time as the Milwaukee County executive before he was elected governor in 2010. Allegations ranging from campaigning on county time to embezzling money from a veterans program have ensnared people close to Walker.

Walker himself hasn't been charged with wrongdoing and has repeatedly said he's cooperating with the investigation. However, he also set up a legal defense fund, a move allowed only for officeholders who have been charged or are under investigation for election or campaign violations.

Walker's campaign revealed in recent public filings that it transferred $60,000 to the legal fund to pay for attorneys.

The defense fund has already become a campaign issue for Walker. The Republican governor faces a recall election next month that was sparked when Walker and Republicans passed a law that effectively ended collective-bargaining rights for most public workers.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the Democrat challenging Walker in the June 5 election, called on the governor last week to reveal the circumstances under which he arranged the legal defense fund.

Walker's campaign responded that the fund was set up under the guidance of the state elections board and reiterated that Walker isn't a target of the investigation.

The ongoing John Doe case has already led to charges against five people who worked for or were associated with Walker's county executive office in Milwaukee before he was became governor.

One former aide pleaded guilty to working on Walker's gubernatorial campaign on county time, and his former deputy chief of staff is charged with felony misconduct in office. Two other former Walker associates were charged with embezzling more than $60,000 from veterans and their families, and a fifth is charged with child enticement, evidence of which allegedly was discovered while investigating one of the others.

[brainpanhandler]

Interesting statistical analyses here:

http://richardcharnin.wordpress.com/cat ... elections/

Richard is a member here.

I'd like to find any stories on preparations being made to monitor the recall vote. It's a dead certainty that they'll steal it if they can't win it fairly. Knowing that well in adavance we ought to be able to nail them. I mean there should be armies of election observers and lawyers ready to pounce on the slightest hint of foul play. In fact just start preemptively suing right now.

[StarmanSkye]

Ugh; Just reading about the out-and-out conmen swindlers & grifters that were embedded in Walker's past office makes me wonder if anyone supports him who isn't either already bought-off or has expectations of same.

I remember how blatant the exception for collective rights bargaining was for police and firefighter unions that supported Walker, and wonder why more hay wasn't made over this by Walker opponents. At least the court managed to chastise Walker et al for it! The case of Walker makes the past practice of tarring and feathering and running corrupt venal thugs out of town on a rail attractive ... perhaps it could be revived, as prelude to a long prison term of hard labor, along with penalties, fines and fees to recompense the state's citizens for expenses and loss of public tax monies?

[seemslikeadream]

Article From The Past Reveals A Lifetime Of Dirty Politics For Scott Walker
May 28, 2012
By Segway Jeremy Ryan


One question I find myself asking often is if Scott Walker was always this dirty. In other words, is he just a pawn for the super rich and willing to do their bidding or is he genuinely a dishonest person? The case begins to point more towards genuine dishonesty when you look into his past. According to the Marquette Tribune:

Walker attended Marquette from 1986 t0 1990, but never attained a degree (see page 5). His sophomore year, Walker ran for president of the Associated Students of Marquette University (ASMU, the former title for Marquette Student Government). He was accused of violating campaign guidelines on multiple occasions.

The Tribune reported then that he was found guilty of illegal campaigning two weeks before his candidacy became official. Later, a Walker campaign worker was seen placing brochures under doors at the YMCA. Door-to-door campaigning was strictly prohibited.

Walker initially denied this but later admitted to the violation, which resulted in lost campaign privileges at the YMCA.





Yes, that is correct. According to Marquette’s own newspaper (no better source), he was kicked out of the college for illegal campaigning. Keep in mind his office is currently under investigation for illegal campaigning for which he has set up a legal defense fund. Charges have been brought against several appointees and aides for both illegal campaigning and stealing money from veterans. Also notice how he initially denied that he was violating the door-to-door policy, but later admitted to the violation. Apparently he not only has a history of illegal campaigning, but he also has a history of lies. But before he was even charged with illegal campaigning, you can find a history of dirty (even if legal) campaigning as well. In fact his lies and claims got so bad, in 1988, before any of the illegal campaigning came out, Marquette Tribune issued a retraction for partially supporting him in an article titled Revision – Walker unfit:

One of the hardest things in the world is to make a public retraction. But there are times, thankfully the exception rather than the rule, when new facts require re-evaluation of a sincere and carefully thought-out position. We find ourselves in precisely this position.

Tuesday, we announced our belief that “each of the two (ASMU) presidential candidates offers significant improvements over this years administration” and that “Either candidate would serve the student body well.” We no longer believe this to be the case. In light of developments since Sunday evening we now conclude that John Quigley alone shows the qualifications we deem necessary to successful leadership of ASMU.

Both Scott Walker and John Quigley presented themselves at our endorsement interviews as above-board candidates. They genuinely concerned themselves with the issues and declined to smear each other, even when asked to elaborate on the weaknesses of their opponent’s platform. But Tuesday morning, a Scott Walker campaign brochure was distributed on campus which amounts to nothing more than a blatant mudslinging spree.

Walker’s opponent is characterized misleadingly, as “constantly shout(ing) about fighting the administration,” as “threatening lawsuits” and as “try(ing) to lead several ineffective protests of his own.” In short, the student body is asked to view Quigley as a wild-eyed radical determined to rouse the students into surrounding O’Hara Hall with stones and spears. His platform is caricatured as “just vague ideals.”

As the article continues:

We examined the brochure without its reference to the editorial board and asked ourselves, “If this was part of the standard Walker campaign literature when we held the interviews, would we have written the endorsement differently?”

Every one of us had to answer yes. We could not have written, in good conscience, that Walker would be a good president. In our opinion, no one who responds to opposition by distorting (if not assassinating) the character of his opponent and making pouty accusations deserves to be president of the student body. But this, of course, is something the student body will have to decide.

We are also disappointed by reports of Walker campaign personnel picking up armfuls of Tuesday’s Tribune and throwing them away. We are disappointed not because the papers contained our endorsements, but because it is a serious shame to see hours of work and thousands of advertising dollars deliberately made useless. And mostly because a great number of Marquette students were deprived of a chance to see the paper – coverage of the Maya Angelou presentation and the Marquette-Virginia Tech game, among other stories and the four-page health supplement.

On the same link it shows the brochure in question. In it is written “Scott knows that student protests and sit-ins are poor substitutes for effective leadership and reasoned argument.” This would, perhaps, explain why Walker’s Department of Administration has been the subject of many lawsuits on First Amendment rights, with more on the way. It may also explain why Walker doesn’t seem to comprehend rights in general. Many rights we hold dear were founded off of protests and sit-ins. To attack this form of addressing a grievance is to attack America and freedom.

Taking a look at Scott Walker’s past shows us that he has always been this way. He has always relied on false attacks and dirty tactics to win office. Thankfully Marquette had enough and booted him for his illegal campaigning. Now it’s time for the people of Wisconsin to do the same. We must rise up and fight to make sure this dirty game does not become the norm in Wisconsin. We have a long history of clean and open politics. In just a year and a half this all changed. We must continue to fight.

One day longer! One day stronger!

Jeremy Ryan

jryan@jeremyryan.net

www.jeremyryan.net

Segway Jeremy Ryan has become a full-time member of the protests at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Formerly a businessman, he gave up his business to join the fight for the middle class in the State of Wisconsin. He rides a Segway due to a heart condition. Through videos and writings he has informed hundreds of thousands of people about what was going on at the Wisconsin State Capitol once the mainstream media had mostly abandoned the protests. He has been arrested over 31 times for silently filming or holding up a sign in the Capitol. He is also running for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 76th District.